Image forming apparatus and computer readable medium

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a communication section connected to a data processing apparatus through a communication line, the apparatus including: a plurality of storage sections each of which has a different free storage capacity and a different access speed; and a control section to obtain data size information of a data-decompressed XPS file from the XPS file which includes the data size information in a head of a file data frame, the XPS file being received from the data processing apparatus through the communication section, to select a storage section to store the file data of the data-decompressed XPS file from the plurality of storage sections on the basis of the data size information, to perform data decompression of the XPS file, and to allow the selected storage section to store the file data of the data-decompressed XPS file.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present U.S. patent application claims a priority under the ParisConvention of Japanese patent application No. 2007-255428 filed on Sep.28, 2007, which shall be a basis of correction of an incorrecttranslation.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and acomputer readable medium.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent years, an image forming system in which a data processingapparatus, such as a personal computer (PC), including an installedprinter driver therein controls an image forming apparatus through acommunication network, such as a local area network (LAN), has becomewidely used.

Moreover, Microsoft Corporation announced an electronic documentspecification called as an XML paper specification (XPS) at the end of2006. A file of an electronic document in conformity to the XPS(hereinafter referred to as an XPS file) includes font data, image data,text data, and the like, and is generated by performing the ZIPcompression of these data files (an XML file, an image file, and thelike). That is, an XPS file is a ZIP compression file.

The data processing apparatus performs the ZIP compression of an XMLfile and an image file to generate an XPS file, and transmits thegenerated XPS file to the image forming apparatus. The image formingapparatus receives the XPS file, and sequentially executes the ZIPdecompression of the XPS file. The image forming apparatus then spoolsthe ZIP-decompressed file data into a storage medium (such as a memoryand a hard disk). The image forming apparatus then reads theZIP-decompressed file data from the storage medium to perform imageforming processing.

Moreover, a technique to change the compression rate of print data byjudging from a memory capacity at the time of storing the print datainto the memory for reprinting was disclosed (Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-179977).

Now, because the image forming apparatus cannot know the size of thefile data of a ZIP-decompressed (data-decompressed) XPS file at thestart of the ZIP decompression of the XPS file, the image formingapparatus will spool the file data into a predetermined storage medium.

Consequently, a situation, in which the file data has been stored in astorage medium (for example, a memory) that has a fast access speed butan insufficient storage capacity and the storage capacity runs short onthe way to performing the ZIP decompression processing, has occurred. Inthis case, the image forming apparatus performs the ZIP decompressionprocessing from the beginning again to store the file data in anotherstorage medium (for example, a hard disk) having a larger storagecapacity. Consequently, a delay of the image forming processing results.

Moreover, although there is a storage medium (for example, a memory)having a sufficient storage capacity to store ZIP-decompressed(unzipped) file data and having a fast access speed, the image formingapparatus may store the file data into a storage medium (for example, ahard disk) having a slow access speed, and consequently a delay of theimage forming processing would result.

Moreover, if the data size of ZIP-decompressed file data is too largeand it is impossible to store the file data in any storage mediaequipped in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatuscontinues to perform the ZIP decompression processing until the storagecapacity overflows. At the time when the storage capacity overflows, theerror is detected, and the effect of the overflow is displayed.Consequently, a loss of user's time results.

SUMMARY

The present invention was made in view of the problems described above,and the object of the present invention is to store file data of adecompressed XPS file into the optimum storage medium equipped in animage forming apparatus so as to realize the efficient and high-speedimage forming processing.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, an image forming systemreflecting a first aspect of the present invention includes a dataprocessing apparatus and an image forming apparatus communicated witheach other through a communication line, wherein the image formingapparatus performs image formation on the basis of data transmitted fromthe data processing apparatus, and the data processing apparatusincludes: a first communication section to communicate with the imageforming apparatus through the communication line; and a first controlsection to generate a XPS file including, in a head of a file dataframe, data size information of the data-decompressed XPS file, and toallow the first communication section to transmit the XPS file to theimage forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes: asecond communication section to communicate with the data processingapparatus with each other through a communication line; a plurality ofstorage sections each of which has a different free storage capacity anda different access speed; and a second control section to obtain thedata size information of the data-decompressed XPS file from the XPSfile received from the data processing apparatus through the secondcommunication section, to select a storage section to store the filedata of the data-decompressed XPS file from the plurality of storagesections on the basis of the data size information, to perform datadecompression of the XPS file, and to allow the selected storage sectionto store the file data of the data-decompressed XPS file.

Preferably, the second control section selects a storage section whichhas a faster access speed and a free storage capacity sufficient forstoring the file data of the decompressed XPS file.

Moreover, an image forming system reflecting a second aspect of thepresent invention includes a data processing apparatus and an imageforming apparatus communicated with each other through a communicationline, wherein the image forming apparatus performs image formation onthe basis of data transmitted from the data processing apparatus, andthe data processing apparatus includes: a first communication section tocommunicate with the image forming apparatus through the communicationline; and a first control section to generate a XPS file which includesone or a plurality of stored files each including, in a head of a filedata frame, data size information of the data-decompressed stored file,and to allow the first communication section to transmit the XPS file tothe image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes: asecond communication section to communicate with the data processingapparatus with each other through the communication line; a plurality ofstorage sections each of which has a different free storage capacity anda different access speed; and a second control section to perform aprocessing to each stored file stored in an XPS file, the processingcomprising the steps of: obtaining a data size information of thedata-decompressed stored file from the stored file, the XPS file beingreceived from the data processing apparatus through the secondcommunication section; selecting a storage section to store the filedata of the data-decompressed stored file on the basis of the data sizeinformation; performing the data decompression of the stored file; andallowing the selected storage section to store the file data of thedata-decompressed stored file.

Preferably, the second control section selects a storage section whichhas a faster access speed and a free storage capacity sufficient forstoring the file data of the data-decompressed stored file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinbelow and the appended drawings, and thus arenot intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a client terminal;

FIG. 3 is data content of a print ticket file;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in the clientterminal;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in an imageforming apparatus of a first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the obtainment processing of the data sizeof a ZIP-decompressed XPS file;

FIG. 8 is a data configuration diagram of a ZIP file;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by an imageforming apparatus of a second embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the obtainment processing of the datasize of a ZIP-decompressed stored file.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT First Embodiment

In the following, a first embodiment of an image forming systemaccording to the present invention will be described.

[System Configuration of Image Forming System]

FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of an image forming system 100. Asshown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 is composed of an imageforming apparatus 10 and a client terminal (data processing apparatus)20, and each apparatus is connected to each other through acommunication network N in a state capable of performing datacommunications.

The image forming apparatus 10 is the so-called multi-functionperipheral (MFP) equipped with a copy function, an image readingfunction, and a printer function, and forms an image on a sheet of paperon the basis of a print job (print instruction) transmitted from theclient terminal 20 and image data read by an image reading section, suchas a scanner, provided in the image forming apparatus 10.

The client terminal 20 is the so-called personal computer, and has thefunction of transmitting a print job to the image forming apparatus 10.A printer driver program (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as aprinter driver) is installed in the client terminal 20, and the clientterminal 20 uses the function of the printer driver to generate a printjob including the data of print conditions to be applied at the time ofimage formation, image data, and the like, and to transmit the generatedprint job to the image forming apparatus 10.

[Functional Configuration of Client Terminal]

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the client terminal 20. As shown inFIG. 2, the client terminal 20 is composed of a CPU 21, an operationsection 22, a display section 23, a communication section 24, a randomaccess memory (RAM) 25, and a storage section 26.

The CPU 21 reads various processing programs stored in the storagesection 26 and expands the read processing programs in a work areaformed in the RAM 25 to perform various kinds of processing incooperation with the programs according to operation signals input fromthe operation section 22 or instruction signals received by thecommunication section 24.

The operation section 22 is composed of a keyboard including cursorkeys, numeral inputting keys, various function keys, and the like, and apointing device, such as a mouse, and outputs an instruction signalinput by a key operation to the keyboard or a mouse operation to the CPU21.

The display section 23 is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) anddisplays an input instruction from the operation section 22, data, andthe like, in conformity to the instruction of a display signal inputfrom the CPU 21.

The communication section 24 is equipped with a LAN adapter, a router, aterminal adapter (TA), and the like, and performs the transmission andthe reception of data with external equipment such as the image formingapparatus 10 connected through the communication network N.

The RAM 25 forms a work area to temporarily store the various processingprograms to be executed by the CPU 21 and the data pertaining to theseprograms.

The storage section 26 is a storage apparatus, such as a hard disk, andstores various programs, set data, image data, and the like. Moreover,the storage section 26 stores a printer driver program 261.

The CPU 21 reads the printer driver program 261 from the storage section26 to expand the read printer drive program 261 into the RAM 25, andgenerates print job data to be transmitted to the image formingapparatus 10 in cooperation with the program 261.

To put it concretely, the CPU 21 specifies the image data (image file)or the like that is a print object through the operation section 22 by auser's operation, and sets the information concerning the number ofsets, print range, and the like. The CPU 21 then produces a print ticket(print ticket file), which is an XML file to which an image formationsetting is described. The CPU 21 then adds the generated print ticketfile to an image file or the like, and performs the ZIP compressionthereof to generate an XPS file. The CPU 21 adds the print ticket fileto the image file or the like so that the print ticket file may bestored at the head of the file data frame of the XPS file here.

Moreover, the CPU 21 generates print condition data on the basis of theset information concerning the number of sets, the print range, and thelike.

The CPU 21 generates the print job data on the basis of the XPS file andthe print condition data to once store the generated print job data intothe storage section 26.

The CPU 21 next reads the print job data from the storage section 26,and controls the communication section 24 to transmit the print job datato the image forming apparatus 10.

[Print Ticket]

The CPU 21 adds the data size information of the ZIP-decompressed XPSfile to the print ticket file when the CPU 21 generates the print ticketfile. FIG. 3 shows a part of the data content of the print ticket filegenerated by the CPU 21. According to FIG. 3, the data size of theZIP-decompressed XPS file is 640,000,000 bytes.

[Functional Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. Asshown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 10 is composed of a CPU 11,an operation section 12, a display section 13, an image reading section14, an image forming section 15, a communication section 16, a RAM 17, aread only memory (ROM) 18, and a storage section 19.

The CPU 11 reads the various processing programs stored in the ROM 18and expands the read processing programs into a work area formed in theRAM 17 to perform various kinds of processing in cooperation with theexpanded programs according to operation signals input from theoperation section 12 or instruction signals received by thecommunication section 16.

The operation section 12 includes various keys, such as numeral keys, astart key, and a reset key, and outputs the depression signal of adepressed key to the CPU 11. Moreover, the operation section 12 isequipped with a touch panel integrally formed with the display section13, and detects the position on the touch panel against which afingertip of a user, a touch pen, or the like, abuts to output aposition signal to the CPU 11.

The image reading section 14 is the so-called scanner, which reads anoriginal image to generate image data, and is equipped with a platenglass, on which an original is placed, and a scanning optical system,which scans the original image on the platen glass to form the imagethereof on a CCD image sensor. The image reading section 14 performs theanalog to digital (A/D) conversion of an image signal generated on thebasis of the original image read by the CCD image sensor to generate adigital image signal.

The image forming section 15 is a function section including constituentelements necessary for forming an image by using an image formingprocess, such as an electrophotographic printing process, anelectrostatic recording process, and a thermal transfer process. Forexample, the image forming section 15 is composed of a photosensitivebody, a transfer belt, a fixing device, various conveying belts, anelectronic circuit, a paper feeding section, and a paper ejectionsection. The image forming section 15 forms an image on a sheet of papersupplied from the paper feeding section on the basis of the image datagenerated by the image reading section 14, the image data included in anXPS file received by the communication section 16, or the like, toconvey the sheet of paper to the paper ejection section in accordancewith an instruction of the CPU 11. Moreover, the paper feeding sectionis equipped with a paper feeding tray, and the paper ejection section isequipped with a paper ejection tray.

The communication section 16 is equipped with a local area network (LAN)adapter, a router, a terminal adapter (TA), and the like, and performsthe transmission and the reception of data with external equipment, suchas the client terminal 20, connected to the communication section 16through the communication network N. For example, the communicationsection 16 receives print job data from the client terminal 20.

The RAM 17 forms a work area to temporarily store the various processingprograms to be executed by the CPU 11 and the data pertaining to theseprograms. Moreover, the RAM 17 stores the file data of the XPS filedecompressed by the ZIP decompression by the CPU 11, and the like.

The ROM 18 stores various processing programs to be executed by the CPU11, various data, and the like. These various programs are stored in theforms of readable program codes, and the CPU 11 sequentially executesthe operations in accordance with the program codes.

The storage section 19 is a storage apparatus, such as a hard disk, andstores the image data read by the image reading section 14, the filedata of the XPS file ZIP-decompressed by the CPU 11, and the like.Moreover, the storage capacity of the storage section 19 is larger thanthat of the RAM 17. Moreover the access speed of the storage section 19from the CPU 11 is slower than that of the RAM 17.

When the communication section 16 starts to receive the XPS fileincluded in print job data from the client terminal 20, the CPU 11sequentially executes the ZIP decompression of the file data of thereceived XPS file.

Because a print ticket file is stored at the head of the file data frameof the XPS file here, the communication section 16 will first receivesthe print ticket file included in the XPS file.

The CPU 11 decompresses the print ticket file by the ZIP decompression,and obtains the data size information of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file.The CPU 11 then selects the storage medium to store the file data of theZIP-decompressed XPS file between the RAM 17 and the storage section 19on the basis of the data size information of the ZIP-decompressed XPSfile. The CPU 11 then performs the ZIP decompression of the XPS file,and allows the selected storage medium to store the file data ofZIP-decompressed XPS file.

If there is a free memory capacity to store the file data of theZIP-decompressed XPS file in the RAM 17 here, then the CPU 11 allows theRAM 17 to store the file data. Moreover, if there are no free memorycapacities to store the file data of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file inthe RAM 17, then the CPU 11 allows the storage section 19 to store thefile data. Furthermore, if there are no free hard disk capacities tostore the file data of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file also in the storagesection 19, then there are no storage media to store the file data. TheCPU 11 accordingly allows the display section 13 to perform the errordisplay to the effect, and does not perform the ZIP decompression of theXPS file.

By such control, the file data of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file can bestored in a storage medium having the fastest access speed and asufficient storage capacity. Moreover, if there are no storage mediahaving a sufficient storage capacity, then the error can be detectedbefore the XPS file is subjected to the ZIP decompression and the filedata thereof is spooled.

The CPU 11 generates an image formation instruction on the basis of thefile data of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file stored in the RAM 17 or thestorage section 19 and the print condition data included in the printjob data received from the client terminal 20 through the communicationsection 16, and outputs the generated image formation instruction to theimage forming section 15.

[Concrete Operation of Each Apparatus]

[Concrete Operation of Client Terminal]

Next, the concrete operation of the client terminal 20 will bedescribed. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing to be executedin the client terminal 20. The present flowchart aims at only the XPSfile as the data to be generated by the client terminal 20.

A user first specifies image data (image file) or the like to be a printobject, and sets the information such as the number of sets and a printrange.

As shown in FIG. 5, the client terminal 20 then generates a print ticket(print ticket file) including the data size information of theZIP-decompressed XPS file to be generated (Step S1). The client terminal20 then adds the generated print ticket file to the image file or thelike (Step S2), and performs ZIP compression to generate an XPS file(Step S3).

The client terminal 20 next allows the storage section 26 to store thegenerated XPS file to spool the XPS file (Step S4). The client terminal20 then reads the XPS file from the storage section 26 (Step S5) totransmits the read XPS file to the image forming apparatus 10 accordingto the processing situation of the image forming apparatus 10 (Step S6).

[Concrete Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]

The concrete operation of the image forming apparatus 10 is nextdescribed. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in theimage forming apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 6, when the image formingapparatus 10 starts to receive an XPS file from the client terminal 20,the image forming apparatus 10 obtains the data size information of theZIP-decompressed XPS file (Step S101).

The concrete contents of the obtainment processing of the data sizeinformation of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file (Step S101 in FIG. 6) inthe image forming apparatus 10 are described here with reference to FIG.7.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the image forming apparatus 10 starts toreceive the XPS file from the client terminal 20, the image formingapparatus 10 decompresses the head of the file data frame of the XPSfile, and reads (obtains) the print ticket file from the head (StepS201). The image forming apparatus 10 then obtains the value of“DecompressedSize” (see FIG. 3), that is, the data size information ofthe ZIP-decompressed XPS file, from the print ticket file (Step S202).

Returning to FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus 10 next compares thefree memory capacity of the RAM 17 with the data size of theZIP-decompressed XPS file (Step S102). If the free memory capacity ofthe RAM 17 is larger than the data size as the result of the comparison(Step S102; Yes), the image forming apparatus 10 performs the ZIPdecompression of the XPS file to allows the RAM 17 to store (spool) theZIP-decompressed file data, (Step S103).

The image forming apparatus 10 then judges whether the spool hasnormally ended or not (Step S104). If the spool has normally ended (StepS104; Yes), the image forming apparatus 10 generates an image formationinstruction to perform image forming processing on the basis of the filedata of the spooled ZIP-decompressed XPS file and the like. On the otherhand, if the spool has not normally ended (Step S104; No), the imageforming apparatus 10 does not perform the image forming processing toend the processing.

Moreover, if the data size of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file is equal toor larger than the free memory capacity of the RAM 17 as the result ofthe comparison at Step S102 (Step S102; No), the image forming apparatus10 compares the free hard disk capacity of the storage section 19 withthe data size of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file (Step S105). If the freehard disk capacity of the storage section 19 is larger than the datasize as the result of the comparison (Step S105; Yes), then the imageforming apparatus 10 performs the ZIP decompression of the XPS file toallow the storage section 19 to store (spool) the ZIP-decompressed filedata (Step S106).

The image forming apparatus 10 then judges whether the spool hasnormally ended or not (Step S104).

Moreover, if the data size of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file is equal toor larger than the free hard disk capacity of the storage section 19 asthe result of the comparison at Step S105 (Step S105; No), then theimage forming apparatus 10 displays an error display to the effect ofthe nonexistence of the region capable of receiving the spool in thedisplay section 13 (Step S107), and ends the processing withoutperforming the image forming processing.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the clientterminal 20 generates the XPS file storing the print ticket includingthe data size information of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file in the headof the file data frame thereof to transmit the generated XPS file to theimage forming apparatus 10. When the image forming apparatus 10 startsto receive the XPS file, the image forming apparatus 10 selects thestorage medium to store the file data of the ZIP-decompressed XPS filebetween the RAM 17 and the storage section 19 on the basis of the datasize information of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file, which data sizeinformation is included in the print ticket. The image forming apparatus10 then performs the ZIP decompression of the XPS file to allow theselected storage medium to store the ZIP-decompressed file data therein.

The image forming apparatus 10 can consequently allow the optimumstorage medium, that is, the storage medium having the fastest accessspeed and a sufficient storage capacity, between the RAM 17 and thestorage section 19 to store the file data of the ZIP-decompressed XPSfile therein, and can realize efficient and high-speed image formingprocessing.

Furthermore, if the storage capacities of the RAM 17 and the storagesection 19 are not sufficient for storing the file data of theZIP-decompressed XPS file, then the image forming apparatus 10 allowsthe display section 13 to display the error display to the effect.Consequently, it becomes unnecessary to continue to the ZIPdecompression processing until the storage capacities overflow.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10allows either of the RAM 17 and the storage section 19 to store the filedata of the ZIP-decompressed XPS file, but the present invention is notlimited to this embodiment. For example, the image forming apparatus 10may be equipped with another storage medium (for example, a flashmemory) besides the RAM 17 and the storage section 19 to allow any oneof the three or more storage media to store the file data of theZIP-decompressed XPS file.

Second Embodiment

In the following, a second embodiment of an image forming systemaccording to the present invention will be described. Incidentally,different points from those of the first embodiment will be chieflydescribed in the present description.

[Data Configuration of ZIP File]

FIG. 8 is the data configuration diagram of a ZIP file. As shown in FIG.8, the ZIP file is composed of one or a plurality of data files(hereinafter referred to as stored files) and the whole information.

Each of the stored files is composed of a “Compressed data” frame, whichis compressed data, and a “Local file header” frame and an “Extendedlocal header” frame, both of which are the pieces of header informationof the stored file situated at the front and the back of the “Compresseddata” frame, respectively. The whole information is then composed of a“Central directory” frame and an “End of central directory” frame.

The “Local file header” frame and the “Extended local file” frame, whichare the pieces of header information of the stored file, stores a“compressed size,” which indicates the data size of the “Compresseddata” frame, and an “decompressed size,” which indicates the data sizeof the ZIP decompressed “Compressed data” frame.

Moreover, the “Central directory” frame, which is the whole information,stores a “compressed size,” which indicates the data size of the wholeZIP file, and an “decompressed size,” which indicates the data size ofthe whole decompressed ZIP file.

[Functional Configuration of Client Terminal]

When the CPU 21 of the client terminal 20 performs ZIP compression togenerate an XPS file, the CPU 21 of the client terminal 20 writes thedata size of the “Compressed data” frame into the “compressed size” ofeach of the “Local file header” frame, which is the header informationof one or a plurality of stored files included in an XPS file, andwrites the data size of the ZIP-decompressed “Compressed data” frameinto the “decompressed size” of the “Local file header” frame.

[Functional Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]

When the communication section 16 starts to receive the XPS fileincluded in print job data from the client terminal 20, the CPU 11 ofthe image forming apparatus 10 sequentially executes the ZIPdecompression of the file data of the received XPS file.

The CPU 11 first analyzes the header information (“Local file header”frame) of the stored file stored in the head of the file data frame ofthe XPS file to obtain the data size information (“decompressed size”)of the ZIP-decompressed stored file. The CPU 11 then selects the storagemedium to store the file data of the ZIP-decompressed stored file storedin the head between the RAM 17 and the storage section 19 on the basisof the data size information of the ZIP-decompressed stored file. TheCPU 11 then performs the ZIP decompression of the stored file, andallows the selected storage medium to store the ZIP-decompressed filedata.

If there is a free memory capacity to store the file data of theZIP-decompressed stored file in the RAM 17 here, then the CPU 11 allowsthe RAM 17 to store the file data. Moreover, if there are no free memorycapacities to store the file data of the ZIP-decompressed stored file inthe RAM 17, then the CPU 11 allows the storage section 19 to store thefile data. Furthermore, if there are no free hard disk capacities tostore the file data of the ZIP-decompressed stored file also in thestorage section 19, then there are no storage media to store the filedata. The CPU 11 accordingly allows the display section 13 to performthe error display to the effect, and does not perform the ZIPdecompression of the stored file.

After the CPU 11 has made the selected storage medium store the filedata of the ZIP-decompressed stored file, the CPU 11 analyzes the headerinformation (“Local file header” frame) of the stored file stored at thesecond file data frame of the XPS file to obtain the data sizeinformation (“decompressed size”) of the ZIP-decompressed stored file.The CPU 11 then selects the storage medium to store the file data of theZIP-decompressed stored file stored in the second file data framebetween the RAM 17 and the storage section 19 on the basis of the datasize information of the ZIP-decompressed stored file to allow theselected storage medium to store the file data.

The CPU 11 then performs the similar processing also to the stored filesstored in the third, fourth, fifth . . . file data frames of the XPSfile. The CPU 11 repeatedly performs the processing up to the storedfile stored at the last file data frame of the XPS file.

[Concrete Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]

The concrete operation of the image forming apparatus 10 is nextdescribed. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in theimage forming apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 9, when the image formingapparatus 10 starts to receive an XPS file from the client terminal 20,the image forming apparatus 10 obtains the data size information of theZIP-decompressed stored file (“Compressed data” frame) stored in thehead of the XPS file (Step S301).

The concrete contents of the obtainment processing of the data sizeinformation of the ZIP-decompressed stored file included in the XPS file(Step S301 in FIG. 9) in the image forming apparatus 10 are describedhere with reference to FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, the image forming apparatus 10 analyzes the headerinformation (“Local file header” frame) of the stored file included inthe XPS file transmitted from the client terminal 20 to obtain theZIP-decompressed data size information (“decompressed size”) (StepS401).

Returning to FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 10 next compares thefree memory capacity of the RAM 17 with the data size of theZIP-decompressed stored file (Step S302). If the free memory capacity ofthe RAM 17 is larger than the data size as the result of the comparison(Step S302; Yes), the image forming apparatus 10 performs the ZIPdecompression of the stored file to allow the RAM 17 to store (spool)the ZIP-decompressed file data (Step S303).

The image forming apparatus 10 then judges whether the spool hasnormally ended or not (Step S304).

Moreover, if the data size of the ZIP-decompressed stored file is equalto or larger than the free memory capacity of the RAM 17 as the resultof the comparison at Step S302 (Step S302; No), the image formingapparatus 10 compares the free hard disk capacity of the storage section19 with the data size of the ZIP-decompressed stored file (Step S305).If the free hard disk capacity of the storage section 19 is larger thanthe data size as the result of the comparison (Step S305; Yes), then theimage forming apparatus 10 performs the ZIP decompression of the storedfile to allow the storage section 19 to store (spool) theZIP-decompressed file data (Step S306).

The image forming apparatus 10 then judges whether the spool hasnormally ended or not (Step S304).

Moreover, if the data size of the ZIP-decompressed stored file is equalto or larger than the free hard disk capacity of the storage section 19as the result of the comparison at Step S305 (Step S305; No), then theimage forming apparatus 10 displays an error display to the effect ofthe nonexistence of the region capable of receiving the spool in thedisplay section 13 (Step S307), and ends the processing withoutperforming the image forming processing.

Moreover, if the spool has normally ended (Step S304; Yes) as the resultof the judgment at Step S304, then the image forming apparatus 10 judgeswhether the next stored file (“Compressed data”) stored in the XPS fileexists or not (Step S303). If the next stored file exists (Step S308;Yes) as the result of the judgment at Step S308, then the image formingapparatus 10 obtains the ZIP-decompressed data size information of thenext stored file (Step S301). The image forming apparatus 10 thenrepeats the processing.

Moreover, if the nest stored file does not exist as the result of thejudgment at Step S308 (Step S308; No), then the image forming apparatus10 generates an image formation instruction to perform image formingprocessing on the basis of the file data of the spooled ZIP-decompressedstored file and the like.

Moreover, if the spool has not normally ended (Step S304; No) as theresult of the judgment at Step S304, the image forming apparatus 10 doesnot perform the image forming processing to end the processing.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the clientterminal 20 writes the data size information of a ZIP-decompressedstored file into the header information of each stored file included inan XPS file at the time of performing the ZIP compression of the XPSfile to generate the XPS file. The client terminal 20 then transmits thegenerated XPS file to the image forming apparatus 10.

When the image forming apparatus 10 starts to receive the XPS file, theimage forming apparatus 10 selects the storage medium to store the filedata of the ZIP-decompressed stored file in the head between the RAM 17and the storage section 19 on the basis of the data size information ofthe ZIP-decompressed stored file in the head.

The image forming apparatus 10 then performs the ZIP decompression ofthe stored file in the head to allow the selected storage medium tostore the ZIP-decompressed file data therein. The image formingapparatus 10 then repeats the similar processing also to the storedfiles stored in the second, third, fourth, fifth . . . file data frames.

The image forming apparatus 10 can consequently allow the optimumstorage medium, that is, the storage medium having the fastest accessspeed and a sufficient storage capacity, between the RAM 17 and thestorage section 19 to store the file data of each stored file stored inthe ZIP-decompressed XPS file of each stored file therein, and canrealize efficient and high-speed image forming processing.

1. An image forming apparatus including a communication sectionconnected to a data processing apparatus through a communication line toperform image formation on the basis of data transmitted from the dataprocessing apparatus through the communication section, the imageforming apparatus comprising: a plurality of storage sections each ofwhich has a different free storage capacity and a different accessspeed; and a control section to obtain, by decompression, data sizeinformation of a data-decompressed XPS file from the XPS file, whichincludes the data size information in a head of a file data frame andfrom which the data size information and file data are separatelydecompressed to obtain: a decompressed size value corresponding to thedata size information of the decompressed XPS file; and decompressedfile data; the XPS file being received from the data processingapparatus through the communication section, to select a storage sectionto store the file data of the data-decompressed XPS file from theplurality of storage sections on the basis of the data size information,to perform data decompression of the XPS file, and to allow the selectedstorage section to store the file data of the data-decompressed XPSfile.
 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol section selects a storage section which has a faster accessspeed and a free storage capacity sufficient for storing the file data,of the data-decompressed XPS file.
 3. An image forming apparatusincluding a communication section connected to a data processingapparatus through a communication line to perform image formation on thebasis of data transmitted from the data processing apparatus through thecommunication section, the image forming apparatus comprising: aplurality of storage sections, each of which has a different freestorage capacity and a different access speed; and a control section toperform processing to each stored file stored in an XPS file, theprocessing comprising: obtaining a data size information of adata-decompressed stored file from the stored file which includes thedata size information in a head of a file data frame and from which thedata size information and file data are separately decompressed toobtain: a decompressed size value corresponding to the data sizeinformation of the data-decompressed stored file; and decompressed filedata; the XPS file being received from the data processing apparatusthrough the communication section; selecting a storage section to storethe file data of the data-decompressed stored file from the plurality ofstorage sections on the basis of the data size information; performingdata decompression of the stored file; and allowing the selected storagesection to store the file data of the data-decompressed stored file. 4.The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controlsection selects a storage section which has a faster access speed and afree storage capacity sufficient for storing the file data of thedata-decompressed stored file.
 5. A non-transitory computer readablemedium embodying a program to allow a computer to function as a controlsection, the computer including a communication section connected to animage forming apparatus through a communication line to allow the imageforming apparatus to perform image formation through the communicationsection, wherein the control section generates an XPS file, whichincludes data size information of the data-decompressed XPS file in ahead of a file data frame and from which the data size information andfile data can be separately decompressed to obtain a decompressed sizevalue corresponding to the data size information of thedata-decompressed XPS file and decompressed file data, or an XPS filestoring one or a plurality of stored files each of which includes, in ahead of a file data frame, data size information of thedata-decompressed stored file in a head of a file data frame and fromwhich the data size information and file data can be separatelydecompressed to obtain a decompressed size value corresponding to thedata size information of the data-decompressed XPS file and decompressedfile data, and controls the communication section to transmit the XPSfile to the image forming apparatus.
 6. A non-transitory computerreadable medium embodying a program to operate a computer which includesa communication section connected to a data processing apparatus througha communication line to perform image formation on the basis of datatransmitted from the data processing apparatus through the communicationsection, wherein the program operates the computer as: a plurality ofstorage sections each of which has a different free storage capacity anda different access speed; and a control section to obtain, bydecompression, data size information of a data-decompressed XPS filefrom the XPS file which includes the data size information in a head ofa file data frame and from which the data size information and file datacan be separately decompressed to obtain: a decompressed size valuecorresponding to the data size information of the data-decompressed XPSfile; and decompressed file data; the XPS file being received from thedata processing apparatus through the communication section, to select astorage section to store file data of the data-decompressed XPS filefrom the plurality of storage sections on the basis of the data sizeinformation, to perform data decompression of the XPS file, and to allowthe selected storage section to store the file data of thedata-decompressed XPS file.
 7. The non-transitory computer readablemedium embodying a program according to claim 6, wherein the controlsection selects a storage section which has a faster access speed and afree storage capacity sufficient for storing the file data of thedata-decompressed XPS file.
 8. A non-transitory computer readable mediumembodying a program to operate a computer which includes a communicationsection connected to a data processing apparatus through a communicationline to perform image formation on the basis of data transmitted fromthe data processing apparatus through the communication section, whereinthe program operates the computer as: a plurality of storage sectionseach of which has a different free storage capacity and a differentaccess speed; and a control section to perform a processing, to eachstored file stored in an XPS file, the processing comprising the stepsof: obtaining, by decompression, data size information of thedata-decompressed stored file, the stored file including the data sizeinformation in a head of a file data frame and from which the data sizeinformation and file data can be separately decompressed to obtain: adecompressed size value corresponding to the data size information ofthe data-decompressed stored file; and decompressed file data; the XPSfile being received from the data processing apparatus through thecommunication section; selecting a storage section to store file data ofthe data-decompressed stored file from the plurality of storage sectionson the basis of the data size information; performing data decompressionof the stored file; and allowing the selected storage section to storethe file data of the data-decompressed stored file.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium embodying a program according toclaim 8, wherein the control section selects a storage section which hasa faster access speed and a free storage capacity sufficient for storingthe file data of the data-decompressed stored file.